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Archive for the ‘Philadelphia, PA’ Category

Yard Act (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, October 10, 2024)

Posted in Omni, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer, Yard Act on October 11, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 10, 2024] Yard Act

I had tickets to see Yard Act last back in 2022.  That show was cancelled at the last minute because Yard Act was called back home to do a live TV appearance for the Mercury Prize (surely a lot more lucrative than playing a gig at Underground Arts).

But they returned to Underground Arts last year and I grabbed a ticket.  My expectations were mild and they blew me away with their energy and fun.

Yard Act are very British (being from Leeds).  On record, “singer” James Smith mostly rants and speaks angrily in his accented English.  His lyrics are placed over some very cool guitars from Sam Shipstone and some really grooving bass from Ryan Needham.  Drummer Jay Russell keeps things together.

For this tour they added two backing singers Daisy Smith and Lauren Fitzpatrick who made a surprising difference to the show.  Their vocal contributions were great but it was their physical presence that added a lot to the show.  They also added a keyboardist Christopher Duffin who fleshed out the sounds–I’m not sure if he was making some of the really weird sounds that floated through the background, but I assume so. (more…)

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The Lemon Twigs / Milk ‘n’ Cookies (Underground Arts, Philadelphia PA, October 11, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Milk 'n' Cookies, Philadelphia, PA, The Lemon Twigs, Underground Arts on October 11, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: October 11, 2024] The Lemon Twigs / Milk ‘n’ Cookies

I discovered The Lemon Twigs a few years ago and really enjoyed their glam rock sound and I imagined that they would be a ton of fun live.  The band is technically a duo, although they have more people on stage with them.

I keep managing to not see them though.  Tonight I had tickets to see Bevis Frond, but their tour was cancelled because of visa issues. So I should have gone to see The Lemon Twigs, but October had so many shows in it that some had to give.  I rather wish that I hadn’t skipped this one though as I have just learned a bit about the opening band Milk ‘n’ Cookies.

Milk ‘n’ Cookies formed in the early 1970s in Long Island, New York.  They played power pop but never made it.  The core line-up of the band was made up of Ian North, Justin Strauss, Sal Maida and Mike Ruiz and, in their time, they played classic NYC venues like CBGB’s and Max’s Kansas City. They shared bills with everyone from Talking Heads to The Ramones and have amassed a cult following, influencing the likes of Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) and Debbie Harry (Blondie).

It would have been interesting to see them live.

So, maybe the next time the Twigs come around (if their next album kicks ass) I’ll go see them.

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Public Memory / Mint Field (Kung Fu Necktie, Philadelphia, PA, October 11, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Kung Fu Necktie, Mint Field, Philadelphia, PA, Public Memory on October 11, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: October 11, 2024] Public Memory / Mint Field

I found out about this show just a few days before it was supposed to happen.  It happened to be on the same night as Yard Act AND Charly Bliss, so no matter how much I want to see Mint Field (and I want to see them quite a lot), I wasn’t going to pick this show over those two.

Especially since I think Public Memory was opening.  I’ve never heard of Public Memory.  And Interlocuter says of the band

Public Memory is the latest project of musician Robert Toher. He was formerly a member of the band APSE, which had a distinct take on postpunk and post rock, and his subsequent project ERAAS rooted that moody propulsive rock sound into a more electronic-based realm. Public Memory continues in this dark and lovely musical direction.

Neither of those other bands is familiar to me, but from what I can gather Public Memory is primarily slow moody gothy synth.  I kind of like it.

But for me the real treat would be Mint Field.  Here’s just a few great blurbs about them: (more…)

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The Bevis Frond (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, October 11, 2024) [POSTPONED]

Posted in Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, The Bevis Frond on October 11, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[POSTPONED: October 11, 2024] The Bevis Frond [moved to March 1, 2025]

I feel like I’ve always been aware of The Bevis Frond, but I don’t think I’d ever heard them.

When they announced their first US tour in 25 years I grabbed a ticket without even being sure if I really liked them,  So I listened to them a bunch and, yes, I do like them.

I felt lucky to be able to go to one of these shows as there were only 8 shows on the tour.

And then in late August it was announced

The Bevis Frond’s first US Tour in over two decades has now been re-scheduled for 2025. Fans can expect a selection from the Frond’s colossal catalogue as well as new music from their recent Fire releases, for what promises to be an historic live show.

But at least there’s a new date because now I’m even more excited about it

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Johnny Marr / James (Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia, PA, October 11, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Franklin Music Hall, James, Johnny Marr, Philadelphia, PA on October 11, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: October 11, 2024] Johnny Marr / James

I saw Johnny Marr six years ago.  I can’t believe it has been six years.  I more or less didn’t bother getting tickets for this because I thought I had seen him much more recently than that.

Plus, when I saw him, it was at the TLA and this show was at Franklin Music Hall.  So good for him for upgrading so much!

But I had two other shows that I was considering that night: The Bevis Frond and The Lemon Twigs.  (more…)

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Charly Bliss / Pronoun (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, October 10, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Charly Bliss, Philadelphia, PA, Pronoun, Underground Arts on October 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: October 10, 2024] Charly Bliss / Pronoun

This was a really tough choice for me.  I was super excited when Charly Bliss announced this show because the last time I saw them it was a ton of fun.

And then Yard Act announced that they were playing Union Transfer the same night.

I had seen Yard Act before, but only once.  And I’d seen Charly Bliss three times.  So I chose Yard Act because they are from the UK and are less likely to play Philly again soon.  And, if I’m being honest, I didn’t love the direction this new Charly Bliss album went is as much as I liked the older records.  So we’ll see what happens in 2025.  (Yard Act were great, btw). (more…)

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Omni (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, October 10, 2024) [YARD ACT]

Posted in Omni, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer, Yard Act on October 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 10, 2024] Omni

Omni is a trio from Atlanta. I hadn’t heard of them and thought they were a new band.  Well, they are, but the members of the band have been around for a while.  Guitarist Frankie Broyles on guitar was in Deerhunter.  Drummer Chris Yonker has been in some other bands that I didn’t know and Philip Frobos on vocals and bass has been in Carnivores.

This explains why this band of, what I assumed were young newbies, was so confident playing their off-kilter post punk.  And probably explains why I loved their set immediately.

I was in front of Frobos and it was cool watching him play bass lines that were more like lead lines than simply rhythm.  I also really liked the sound of his bass–clean but not sharp.

I was pretty far from Broyles, but I enjoyed that he played interesting guitar lines that complemented the bass–but it basically meant there was no simply chord playing going on.

Granite Kiss was staccato with fluid lead guitar lines over the stomping bass and drums.  (more…)

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Mass of the Fermenting Dregs / Young Statues (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, October 8, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Mass of the Fermenting Dregs, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer, Young Statues on October 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: October 8, 2024] Mass of the Fermenting Dregs / Young Statues

I saw Mass of Fermenting Dregs last year and the show was amazing.  It was at Underground Arts and it was packed and the crowd was insane.  I was really looking forward to seeing them at Union Transfer.  I knew a bigger stage would lead to an even better show (and better sight lines as I was too far back at UA).

And then Kishi Bashi announced his Philly show was going to be the same night.  And since my wife and I love Kishi Bashi, he took precedence.

The Kishi Bashi show was great, but I’m bummed to have missed MotD.  (Although looking at the setlist, it was mostly the same show.  But I still would have enjoyed it!). (more…)

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La Luz / Mia Joy (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, October 8, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Johnny Brenda's, La Luz, Mia Joy, Philadelphia, PA on October 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: October 8, 2024] La Luz / Mia Joy

It fascinates me when multiple shows that I want to see wind up on the same night.  It’s a bummer, of course, but weird, like why were there FOUR shows I would have gone to on October 8?

I know La Luz from a live Levitation recording that I really dig.  I don’t know a lot more about the band aside from the basic bio.  They are from Seattle and are known for their “surf noir” style, with layered vocal harmonies.  I didn’t know that their “energetic live shows often include Soul Train-inspired dance contests and crowd surfing.”  Which sounds really fun and makes me want to see them even more.

But again, this was the fourth show tonight and the band I knew the least, so I wasn’t going to go to this one.

Mia Joy Rocha, is an American indie rock musician from Oak Park, Illinois.  I haven’t heard of her but her music is described as ethereal indie pop that envelops the listener in a shroud of gentle, personal hymns that are both intimate & warmly inviting.

Listening to her stuff, that description seems very apt.

This would have been a delightful show.

 

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Sweet Loretta (Brooklyn Bowl, Philadelphia, PA, October 8, 2024) [KISHI BASHI]

Posted in Brooklyn Bowl, Kishi Bashi, Philadelphia, PA, Sweet Loretta, Tall Tall Trees, The Beatles on October 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 8, 2024] Sweet Loretta

Sweet Loretta is from England.  They’ve been around for a while but only recently released their first EP/album.  When I looked them up, the first song I heard featured Kishi Bashi.  How odd, I thought.  I liked the song–it reminds me of Kishi Bashi’s more dancey stuff.

We arrived a little later than I thought we would, so we were in the bathroom when the first song started.  Midway through the song we heard the beginning of the Star Wars theme song.  I’m not sure why, although a few songs later, guitarist/singer Fraser Blanchflower said it was singer/guitarist Quinn Humphreys’s birthday and the Star Wars bit was for him.  Very curious what happened there.

Fraser and Quinn were very funny frontmen.  I enjoyed their banter quite a lot.  Bassist James Stickland was quiet for the whole show and drummer James Clark was from time to time a maniac behind the kit, which was fun.  Quinn said that Kishi Bashi stipulated that they needed to have an album or EP out as a stipulation of touring with him.  Not sure if that’s true, but they played the entire EP (except the opening soundscape).

Musically, they were very retro in style and sound.  I felt like their songs could have been on a John Hughes movie soundtrack.   They have great harmonies with all three guys up front singing together at times in a wall of sound. (more…)

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